Near the 21:00 The commercial environment was decreasing in the 9th of October Avenueright in the center of Guayaquil, one of the main commercial arteries of the city.
Employees from the different businesses located along the avenue hurried to clean and leave everything in order inside for the next morning shift.
From the outside it was observed, through the glass portals where they had placed a closed sign, the intense activity.
“It is closed, we are no longer serving,” he reported on the sidewalk. Oscar Sancheza restaurant security guard, to approaching customers.
For him curfew They moved up the closing time 22:00 to 21:00; However, in the coming days, Sánchez assured that they will receive the last order until 8:45 p.m. and will dispatch the customers who are served inside.
“We are already leaving, so that the staff can arrive on time,” he said.
During the afternoon and night shift, a total of seven people who have express that drops them at their homes.
A few meters away, Sugey Silva, a cook at a place that sells empanadas and sandwiches, said that until around 6:30 p.m. she was not aware that the curfew begins at 11:00 p.m. this Sunday, May 3.
“The truth is, I wasn’t aware. An hour ago my boss just called me that we have to close earlier today because of the curfew,” he said while cleaning one of the tables in the establishment from which a family had gotten up.
“These were the last customers. I live in the south and I already have to close to be able to leave without problems,” he added.
On the same avenue, at the height of Plaza Rocafuerte or known as San Francisco, Mariela Rugel with her daughter lifted the products from her stand where she sells newspapers and sweets.
“I’m leaving at 9:30 p.m.,” he said while organizing the last trinkets that he couldn’t sell.
Their destination was Sauces 6, north of the city, but getting there has become more complicated than it was before.
“I go by taxi… and there are fewer at this time because of the curfew. They charge me $5 or $6. Without a curfew there were three,” he commented.
The rush is not only to find transportation, but to avoid being stranded. It already happened to him once during the previous curfew. He closed his position and couldn’t find a way to get around.
“I had to go to my sister, who lives by the Guayaquil Clinic. I stayed sleeping there until the next day,” he recalled.
Before, his routine was different. He worked until 9:00 p.m., but now he has to adapt.
“Today I close at 8:30 p.m. because I go by taxi. But when I use the Metrovía or the urban bus, I pick up at 7:00 p.m.,” he explained. That means less income. “I lose about $40,” he estimated.
His stall offers a little bit of everything: sweets, small items and also newspapers.
“I sell all kinds of knick-knacks… and also the newspaper. Thank God it sells,” he says, clinging to the little that remains stable amid the changes.
The curfew requires him to reorganize his life. Now you have to get up earlier.
“I have to get up at 06:00 to be here at 07:30. I open at 09:00,” he said.
During these days, her daughter accompanied her taking advantage of the school holidays, but that help is ending. “Tomorrow she goes to school and I’ll work alone. It’s more complicated there,” she admitted.
Every night, when he finishes selling, another challenge begins: saving his stall. He does it in a garage located between 9 de Octubre and Escobedo streets, several blocks from Plaza San Francisco.
“It has three little tires, but you still have to push it… you’re already tired,” he said, while getting ready for that last effort of the day.
The president Daniel Noboathrough the Executive Order 370established a curfew for security reasons in nine provinces and four cantons.
The measure will apply from 3 until May 18 within a time slot of 23:00 to 05:00 in the provinces of Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo and Sucumbíos. In addition to the cantons of La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar) and La Troncal (Cañar). (YO)
